One of the new and noteworthy features for this 5.3 release, the LPAR Cloning and Restoration tool, focuses on extending value in this category by providing a quick and easy way of creating re-usable system images across LPARs.

Through very few steps, it is possible to achieve the following with this new tool:

Save all available devices of the LPAR in backup images;

Use compression methods to decrease the size of the backup image;

Store these images in a NFS server share;

Associate previously saved images with available devices of a LPAR and restore the system;

This function is specially useful in those situations where there is a need to preserve a certain system level, or even quickly replicate system images to multiple LPARS, in a virtualized environment.